“You need to feed.” Rylan didn’t move, just continued to gaze at her.
“You’re going after them, aren’t you?” He pursed his lips. “I think I’ll accompany you.”
“No.” The last thing she wanted was to be in the company of a hungry vampire. Especially Rylan. He read her too well and would ask questions when she had no answers to give. She needed time and space to regroup. “She nearly drained you. You let her take too much.”
“I could taste you on her.” He murmured the last words. “It’s enough.” Though it should’ve frightened her, the warmth in his words brought heat to her face.
“Until you crash in the middle of a fight.” She wouldn’t be responsible for his death.
“Then we’ll split into two teams. One person has to stay here to watch over Durant and his charge. The rest of us will go.”
Raven conceded defeat. If she left without him, he’d just follow. “Fine. Taggert will stay–”
“I have a better sense of smell than anyone here. If you have any hope of finding anything, you’ll need me.”
He had a point. Jackson was already shaking his head before she could speak. “He goes, I go.”
“It looks like you take them all. Call me every twenty minutes and check in.” Dominic grunted, watching her closely as if waiting for her to protest all the added protection.
“Thank you.”
He nodded and walked away. She watched him a moment longer, sensing his concern. He was the leader of a group of elite fighters. He frequently maintained the command post, directing his little minions around like chess pieces. Today was the first time he appeared to chafe under his role. She hesitated, wanted to say something to Dominic to appease him, but couldn’t find the words. Or maybe she was too afraid to dig further. Her world was crumbling faster than she could gather the pieces, and it terrified her.
The storm swept closer, creeping up on her. Time pressed against her, slithering through her mind in a slow countdown. “We need to get there before the storm breaks.” With a nod, she headed straight for the door and ignored the men. Especially Durant. If she were lucky, Dominic would have the house cleared out by the time she returned. She had other things to worry about than some delicious guy hunting her. And hopefully, he would forget all about this supposed mate garbage. She snorted silently, opened the door and headed toward the car.
When thunder rumbled, she tucked her chin down and picked up her pace. A trickle of unease threaded through her. She should be in the basement, locked down while the storm blew over. While her body tried to recover from the last few hours of overuse of her gift, the lightning could prove dangerous. She wasn’t sure if she could deflect all that voltage if it was called down close to her. Instead, she got into the car and did her best to ignore the way her body felt battered by all the current traveling in the wind, eagerly seeking the slightest opening in her shields.
Twisting the keys, the engine revved to life.
As she shifted the car into gear, the men were there. Rylan slipped through the passenger door Jackson had opened, the sneaky bastard using his talents to steal the front seat. After a slight hesitation, Jackson glared at the man then slammed the door and got in back next to Taggert. Without a word, she took off.
Ten minutes passed in uncomfortable silence, the air thick with an argument waiting to erupt.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Rylan broke the stalemate, thankfully choosing a topic she could answer.
“Strauss Forest near Overland Park.” She flicked a glance at him. “Did you pick anything up from her?”
“Vague images. If she was there, I’ll be able to tell. The rest of the memories were too jumbled. They chased her. If we cross the trail, your pet should be able to find them.”
“Rylan, don’t–”
Taggert leaned closer, apparently unoffended. “I caught the scent of her blood. If there’s a drop anywhere in my vicinity, I’ll be able to track her.”
Jackson pressed forward and Taggert scooted over, his face close to her shoulders. The slight brush of his fingers against her hair almost made her pull away. She forced herself to remain still. Pack touched, she reminded herself, it was how they connected. If she pulled away, Taggert would see it as a rejection.
“Then we need to split into two teams; one of you with me and the other with Taggert.” Rylan didn’t say anything more.
She could tell Jackson wasn’t pleased with the turn of events. She wasn’t either, but she couldn’t think of an alternative. “Taggert and I go one way while you two head the opposite direction.” She pushed the gear into park, turned off the motor, and watched the storm draw ever closer, doing her best to clamp down on the seething core begging to be let out to play.